Amph BBC to Adapt 'His Dark Materials'

Personally I found this episode a bit patchier than the last two, but still enjoyed it. There were a surprising amount of inserted scenes that are not in the books (notably Mary and the children and... the other 'thing' *no spoilers*).

Spoiler

I had a particular problem with the two chase scenes, especially the one where the kids of Cittagazze chase Lyra and Will. That was a far tenser and more drawn out scene in the books, and they were in real dire straits.

I know what's coming in the final episode...

Ruth Wilson as ever remains a highlight; and yeah, definitely Ariyon Bakare. I legit laughed out loud at his speakers comment from the earlier episode!

Spoiler

Intriguing scene in the Magisterium where the alethiometer readers discover that Lyra has another name. That's from the beginning of book 3. And yes, the show watchers will find out, because it's key to her role in this story.

 

The HDM Facebook page posted this time-lapse video of the construction of the Cittagazze set. I genuinely thought they were filming in some Mediterranean village.
https://fb.watch/2qgjKlYSfg/

 

I’m finally all caught up on the series. I’m highly impressed how closely this show has followed the books. Even the added scenes that aren’t from the books fit the story perfectly.

Next episode, ho boy.

Spoiler

Lee’s final stand was my watershed moment from book 2. I have no doubts they’ll pull it off beautifully. I’ll just have to brace myself when it comes.

 

I never thought the theme tune could sound good on a guitar, but this is a brilliant adaptation; and he manages to incorporate both the violin and cello parts more or less at the same time!

 

OK, I saw the season finale

To other people who are watching: there's a (very brief) post-credits scene that you shouldn't miss.

 

Spoiler

I wonder if the Asriel scene was filmed instead of the episode focusing on him or if it was meant to be a part of it.

Lee and Hester's deaths were really well done. Definitely a lump in throat moment.

I'm glad they changed John Parry from being killed by a vengeful witch to a Magisterium soldier. Never liked that in the books.

 

Spoiler

The Asriel scene was filmed during lockdown and kept hush hush so it came as a real surprise to everyone.

Which suggests to me that they may not film the missing episode; which is a pity, but at least if season 3 is green-lit, then they will just roll on with book 3 content.

 

Spoiler

As I suspected, Lee’s death was a real tearjerker. Too they didn’t use my favorite line from that scene (“Shame to die with one bullet left, though.”)

I liked that brief glimpse of Roger inside the world of the dead. That’s one segment I’m really looking forward to next season.

 

Spoiler

I don't know what the future holds but writer Jack Thorne did indeed say that creating the Lord Asriel episode at this point "wouldn't be quite right," so unless someone is going to have a change of mind I don't think we're going to get that. Which is too bad, but blame COVID. At this point though I think it's fair to say that we're lucky if we're going to get season 3 at all, so I'll take what I can get.

 

Sorry for the double post, but... Important news.

Is it good news? It is good news.

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/his-dark-materials-renewed-third-final-season-hbo-bbc-1234871680/

 

Now how are the mulfea going to look

 

I’m pretty sure they’re going to try hard to keep that a secret for as long as possible

 

I began re-reading the Amber Spyglass a few weeks ago, to remind myself of how the story played out. I'd forgotten how Mary found the mulefa world for one thing. That's going to be a ton of CGI...

 

Wheeled. Elephants.

 

Casting news:
Sian Clifford as Agent Salmakia
Jonathan Aris as Commander Roke

https://www.bbcamerica.com/blogs/ca...fford-and-sherlock-actor-jonathan-aris--62932

 

Trailer for the third and final season has been released, starting on December 5th.

That trailer seems to have covered all the major story events of the third book, except that the mulefa are nowhere to be seen. I’m actually happy about that. I don’t want to see what this show’s version of them looks like until they’re actually on the screen.

 

Yes, that does look awesome. I was slightly worried about the harpies, but we do get to see one and it looks great. So I don't think we'll have to worry about the mulefa.

 

Here's a trailer that can be watched in the UK:



So much in there! Harpy, angels, the intention craft, gallivespians, and is that the crystal cage we see at 1.50?

 

Entertainment Weekly has given us our first glimpse of the mulefa. I like the look, but I still wish they had kept it under wraps until the season began. Less than a month to go!

 

Looks like a cross between a chalicothere and a macrauchenia.

I thought they were supposed to have two limbs coming out sideways, and one in front and one at the back. Maybe the showrunners decided that would be too difficult to bring to the screen...

Here's an extended trailer that briefly shows a bit more of the mulefa homeworld as well as lots of other goodies:

 

I think that design looks pretty good. I’d need to see it in action (and obviously they’re hiding the wheels from us) but I’m happy with this design.

 

I don’t mind the lack of the diamond-shaped skeleton, as long as they have the wheels. Perhaps that diamond design was too impractical for the SFX crew, especially if Mary is going to be riding them as she did in the book.

 

The third and final season premiered tonight. I won’t watch it until the morning due to other commitments, but it’s good to bump this thread up.

 

Okay wait so . . .

I have literally never heard any human being reference this show at all. Is it actually out? What happened?

 

UK drop date for the third series is 18 December.

Wocky, you're US-based right? As over there it is deemed Not To Be Spoken Of. For it is evil propaganda worse than the infamous Harry Potter.

More seriously, the books are good but they are also just that, books. Read them, enjoy them, move onto the next story. There isn't merchandising and other stuff, so probably is more low profile due to this. Plus those cultural factors, as Pullman has been very open about it being built around an atheist response to the christianity CS Lewis wove through Narnia.